Methods of making and using an identification tag system for use with an electrical breaker panel and an electrical outlet

ABSTRACT

A system for identifying which electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuit breaker, including an electrical outlet faceplate cover having at least one electrical outlet opening and a fastener located adjacent to the at least one electrical outlet opening such that the electrical outlet faceplate cover is located over an electrical outlet, a circuit breaker panel having at least one circuit breaker located on the circuit breaker panel, and a near field communications tag embedded within the electrical outlet faceplate cover or attached to a front face of the electrical outlet faceplate cover, such that the near field communications tag contains information related to which of the at least one circuit breakers is electrically connected to the electrical outlet.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/349,311, filed on Apr. 25, 2019, which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/206,646,filed on Nov. 30, 2018, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. 62/596,948, filed on Dec. 11, 2017, the disclosures ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety to providecontinuity of disclosure to the extent such disclosures are notinconsistent with the disclosure herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to the field of the identification ofwhich electrical outlets/electrical switches are electrically connectedto which circuit breakers located within an electrical circuit breakerbox or panel in a residential or commercial setting. In particular, thepresent invention discloses a near field communications (NFC)identification tag that can be placed on or near an electricaloutlet/electrical switch (or electrical circuit) such that the NFCidentification tag can be used to identify which electrical breaker inthe electrical circuit breaker box or panel is electrically connected toand controls that particular electrical outlet/electrical switch (orelectrical circuit). Also, the electrical outlets/electrical switchescan be listed by category such as outlets/switches owned by a userand/or outlets/switches in a selected building. Furthermore, the circuitbreakers can be monitored and/or controlled. Finally, the users of theidentification tag system can be managed such as is the user a new useror an existing user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known that modern circuit breaker panels have a very messy andhard-to-use form of identification to determine which breaker switchcontrols a specific circuit (or electrical outlet/electrical switch) ina residential or commercial building. The lines for writing theinformation are small and the information written on them often needs tobe changed. Furthermore, if the information regarding which circuitbreaker controls which electrical circuit was originally written in pen,it can quickly turn into a complete mess of scribbles and badhandwriting. Furthermore, while masking tape or sticky notes aresometimes used to solve this issue, they are merely temporary and canjust as easily fall off over time or have the writing fade away.

Prior to the present invention, as set forth in general terms above andmore specifically below, it is known to employ various types ofidentification systems and devices to identify which circuit breakercontrols a specific circuit (or electrical outlet/electrical switch) ina residential or commercial building. See for example, U.S. Pat. No.4,801,868 by Brooks, U.S. Pat. No. 6,246,304 by Gasper, U.S. Pat. No.6,593,530 by Hunt, U.S. Pat. No. 6,903,289 by Tonga et al., U.S. Pat.No. 7,064,635 by Bogdan et a U.S. Pat. No. 8,205,996 by Combs, U.S. Pat.No. 8,604,915 by Clarke, U.S. Pat. No. 9,983,646 by Mullen et al., U.S.Patent Application 2014/0211345 by Thompson et al., U.S. PatentApplication 2016/0020590 by Roosli et al., PCT Patent Application WO2014/099154 by Walsh et al., and EP Patent Application 2,549,610 byWatford. While these various identification systems and devices used toidentify which circuit breaker controls a specific circuit (orelectrical outlet/electrical switch) in a residential or commercialbuilding may have been generally satisfactory, there is nevertheless aneed for an identification tag that can be placed on or near anelectrical outlet (or electrical circuit/electrical switch, or fixture)such that the identification tag can be used to identify whichelectrical breaker in the electrical circuit breaker box or panel iselectrically connected to and controls that particular electrical outlet(or electrical circuit/electrical switch, or fixture), theidentification tag can also be used to create a list of electricaloutlets/electrical switches and fixtures associated with theidentification tag(s), and the circuit breakers be monitored and orcontrolled through the use of the identification tag(s).

It is the purpose of this invention to fulfill these and other needs inthe prior art in a manner more apparent to the skilled artisan oncegiven the following disclosure.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the present invention is a system for identifyingwhich electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuitbreaker, including an electrical outlet faceplate cover having at leastone electrical outlet opening and a fastener located adjacent to the atleast one electrical outlet opening such that the electrical outletfaceplate cover is located over an electrical outlet; a circuit breakerpanel having at least one circuit breaker located on the circuit breakerpanel; and a near field communications tag embedded within theelectrical outlet faceplate cover such that the near fieldcommunications tag contains information related to which of the at leastone circuit breakers is electrically connected to the electrical outlet.

In one embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, theelectrical outlet faceplate cover further includes a durable, material.

In another embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, thenear field communications tag is located adjacent to the at least oneelectrical outlet opening.

A second aspect of the present invention is a method for identifyingwhich, electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuitbreaker, including the steps of: providing an electrical outletfaceplate cover having at least one electrical outlet opening and afastener located adjacent to the at least one electrical outlet openingsuch that the electrical outlet faceplate cover is located over anelectrical outlet; providing a circuit breaker panel having at least onecircuit breaker located on the circuit breaker panel; and providing anear field communications tag embedded within the electrical outletfaceplate cover such that the near field communications tag is capableof containing information related to which of the at least one circuitbreaker is electrically connected to the electrical outlet.

In one embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention, themethod further includes the step of determining which of the at leastone circuit breaker is electrically connected to the electrical outlet.

In another embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention, themethod further includes the step of recording which of the at least onecircuit breaker is electrically connected to the electrical outlet.

In a still another embodiment of the second aspect of the presentinvention, the determining step further includes the steps of locatingthe electrical circuit breaker panel, and turning off and on the atleast one circuit breaker to determine which of the at least one circuitbreaker is electrically connected to the electrical outlet.

In a further embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention,the recording step further includes the step of recording informationabout which of the at least one circuit breaker is electricallyconnected to the electrical outlet into a database, wherein the databaseis located on a mobile communications device or stored remotely.

A third aspect of the present invention is a system for identifyingwhich electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuitbreaker, including: an electrical outlet faceplate cover having at leastone electrical outlet opening and a fastener located adjacent to the atleast one electrical outlet opening such that the electrical outletfaceplate cover is located over an electrical outlet; a circuit breakerpanel having at least one circuit breaker located on the circuit breakerpanel; and a near field communications tag located on a front face ofthe electrical outlet faceplate cover such that the near fieldcommunications tag contains information related to which of the at leastone circuit breakers is electrically connected to the electrical outlet.

In one embodiment of the third aspect of the present invention, theelectrical outlet faceplate cover further includes a durable material.

In another embodiment of the third aspect of the present invention, thenear field communications tag is located adjacent to the at least oneelectrical outlet opening.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is a method for'identifyingwhich electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuitbreaker, including the steps of: providing an electrical outletfaceplate cover having at least one electrical outlet opening and afastener located adjacent to the at least one electrical outlet openingsuch that the electrical outlet faceplate cover is located over anelectrical outlet; providing a circuit breaker panel having at least onecircuit breaker located on the circuit breaker panel; and providing anear field communications tag located on a front face of the electricaloutlet faceplate cover such that the near field communications tag iscapable of containing information related to which of the at least onecircuit breaker is electrically connected to the electrical outlet.

In one embodiment of the fourth aspect of the present invention, themethod further includes the step of determining which of the at leastone circuit breaker is electrically connected to the electrical outlet.

In another embodiment of the fourth aspect of the present invention, themethod further includes the step of recording which of the at least onecircuit breaker is electrically connected to the electrical outlet.

In a still another embodiment of the fourth aspect of the presentinvention, the determining step further includes the steps of locatingthe electrical circuit breaker panel, and turning off and on the atleast one circuit breaker to determine which of the at least one circuitbreaker is electrically connected to the electrical outlet.

In a further embodiment of the fourth aspect of the present invention,the recording step further includes the step of recording informationabout which of the at least one circuit breaker is electricallyconnected to the electrical outlet into a database, wherein the databaseis located on a mobile communications device or stored remotely.

The preferred identification tag that can be used to identify whichelectrical breaker in the electrical circuit breaker box or panel iselectrically connected to and controls that particular electrical outlet(or electrical circuit/electrical switch), according to variousembodiments of the present invention, offers the following advantages:ease of use; lightness in weight; the ability to allow the informationto be accessed through a device with near field communications (NFC)capabilities without removing the cover faceplate; the ability to usethe tag in a commercial or residential building; durability; improvedability to identify which electrical breaker in the electrical circuitbreaker box or panel is electrically connected to and controls thatparticular electrical outlet (or electrical circuit/electrical switch);the ability to attach the tag to an electrical outlet; the ability toattach the tag to an electrical switch faceplate; the ability to attachthe tag to an electrical switch; reduced downtime when replacing anelectrical switch, electrical outlet, electrical circuit and/or circuitbreaker; the ability to create a list of electrical outlets/electricalswitches associated with the identification tag(s); the ability tomonitor and/or control a circuit breaker through the use of theidentification tag(s); and the ability to manage users with whichidentification tag(s) are associated. In fact, in many of the preferredembodiments, these advantages are optimized to an extent that isconsiderably higher than heretofore achieved in prior, knownidentification systems and devices used to identify which circuitbreaker controls a specific circuit (or electrical outlet/electricalswitch) in a residential or commercial building.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned features and steps of the invention and the mannerof attaining them will become apparent, and the invention itself will bebest understood by reference to the following description of theembodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like characters represent like parts throughout theseveral views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic, front view illustration of an electrical outletface plate, constructed according to the prior art;

FIGS. 2a and 2b are schematic, front view illustrations of a near-fieldcommunications (NFC) tag with the NFC tag being hidden (FIG. 2a ) andbeing shown in a cut-away view (FIG. 2b ), constructed according to thepresent invention;

FIGS. 3a and 3b are schematic, side view illustrations of the near-fieldcommunications (NFC) tag of FIGS. 2a and 2 b, respectively, constructedaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic, rear view illustration of the electrical outletface plate of FIG. 1 with the near-field communications (NFC) tagattached, constructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a front view illustration of an electrical outlet with anear-field communications (NFC) tag embedded within one of theelectrical outlets, constructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a front view illustration of the electrical outlet of FIG. 5with a cut-away of one of the electrical outlets, showing the locationof the near-field communications (NFC) tag embedded within one of theelectrical outlets, constructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a front view illustration of an electrical switch with anear-field communications (NFC) tag embedded within the switch paddle,constructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a front view illustration of the electrical switch of FIG. 7with a cut-away of the electrical switch paddle, showing the location ofthe near-field communications (NFC) tag embedded within the switchpaddle, constructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a front view illustration of an electrical outlet face platewith a near-field communications (NFC) tag embedded within theelectrical outlet, face plate, constructed according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is a front view illustration of the electrical outlet face plateof FIG. 9 with a cut-away of the near-field communications (NFC) tagshown as being embedded within the electrical outlet face plate,constructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a front view illustration of an electrical switch face platewith a near-field communications (NFC) tag embedded within theelectrical switch face plate, constructed according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 12 is a front view illustration of the electrical switch face plateof FIG. 11 with a cut-away of the near-field communications (NFC) tagshown as being embedded within the electrical switch face plate,constructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a front view of a main circuit breaker panel for use with thenear-field communications (NFC) tag of FIGS. 2, 6, 8, 10 and 12;

FIG. 14 is a flow chart that illustrates the method of identifying whichelectrical outlet (or electrical circuit/electrical switch) iselectrically connected to and controlled by a particular electricalcircuit breaker in the electrical circuit breaker box or panel,according to the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a flow chart that illustrates the method of identifying whichelectrical breaker in the electrical circuit breaker box or panel iselectrically connected to and controls that particular electrical outlet(or electrical circuit/electrical switch), according to the presentinvention;

FIGS. 16a and 16b are flow charts that illustrate the methods of settingup and maintaining an electrical outlet (or electricalcircuit/electrical switch), according to the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a flow chart that illustrates the method of readingelectrical outlet (or electrical circuit/electrical switch) information,according to the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a flow chart that illustrates the method of creating a listof electrical outlets or circuit breakers (or electricalcircuits/electrical switches) by a predetermined category, according tothe present invention;

FIGS. 19a and 19b are flow charts that illustrate the methods ofmonitoring and controlling a circuit breaker, according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 20 is a flow chart that illustrates the method of monitoring achange in an electrical state of a circuit breaker, according to thepresent invention;

FIGS. 21a-21d are flow charts that illustrate the methods of managingusers of the identification tag system, according to the presentinvention; and FIG; and

FIG. 22 is a front view illustration of an electrical outlet face platewith a near-field communications (NFC) tag attached to the front facesurface of the electrical outlet face plate, constructed according tothe present invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

In order to address the shortcomings of the prior known identificationsystems and devices used to identify which circuit breaker controls aspecific circuit (or electrical outlet/electrical switch) in aresidential or commercial building, reference is made to FIGS. 1-8 wherethere is illustrated near field communications (NFC) identification tags50, 250 and 350 that can be placed on or near an electrical outlet (orelectrical circuit) or electrical switch such that the NFCidentification tags 50, 250 and 350 can be used to identify whichelectrical breaker in the electrical circuit breaker box or panel iselectrically connected to and controls that particular electrical outlet(or electrical circuit) or electrical switch.

Electrical Outlet Faceplate Identification Tag System

With reference to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a conventional faceplate2 that is used to conventionally cover an electrical outlet that can becommonly found in commercial and residential buildings. Typically,faceplate 2 includes faceplate cover 4, electrical outlet openings 6 andfastener 8. It is to be understood that electrical outlet openings 6allow electrical outlets such as electrical outlets 204, as those shownin FIGS. 5 and 6, to be located within the electrical outlet openings 6.Also, it is to be understood that fastener 8 is conventionally used tosecure the faceplate 2 to the electrical outlet. Finally, well known,conventional faceplate 2 typically is constructed of many differenttypes of suitable, durable materials.

As shown in FIGS. 2 a, 2 b, 3 a and 3 b, there is illustrated near-fieldcommunications (NFC) tag 50. NFC tag 50 includes, in part, tag extension52, tag opening 5, near field communications tag holder 56, and nearfield communications tags 60. It is to be understood that tag extension52 and near field communications tag holder 56, preferably, areconstructed of any suitable, durable, non-electrically conductingpolymeric material. It is to be understood that opening 54 isconventionally formed at one end of NFC tag 50. It is to be furtherunderstood that near field communications tags 60 are conventionallyretained within near field communications tag holder 56. It is to befurther understood that FIG. 2b shows a cut-away view of the near fieldcommunications tag 60 being located within a portion of the near fieldcommunications tag holder 56.

It is to be understood that the near field communications tags 60 may bepre-programmed so one simply has to connect to NFC tag 50 to aconventional device with NFC capabilities so that the device can writeto the near field communications tags 60 whatever information isdesired. In this manner, the near field communications tags 60 wouldthen have the data stored and the data could then be accessed later bythe device or any other suitable NFC capable device, if needed.

Regarding FIG. 4, there is illustrated electrical outlet faceplateidentification tag system 100. As shown in FIG. 4, electrical outletfaceplate identification tag system 100 includes, in part, faceplatecover 104, electrical outlet openings 106, fastener 108 and NFC tag 50.It is to be understood that electrical outlet openings 106 and fastener108 function in substantially the same manner as electrical outletopenings 6 and fastener 8 in FIG. 1. It is to be further understood thatfaceplate cover 104, preferably, is constructed of any suitable, durablenon-electrically conducting polymeric material. Furthermore, it is to beunderstood that faceplate cover 104 can be located over an electricaloutlet such as electrical outlet 204.

A unique aspect of the present invention is the use of NFC tag 50 inelectrical outlet faceplate identification tag system 100. As will bediscussed in greater detail later, NFC tag 50 is attached to the back offaceplate cover 104 by locating tag opening 54 over fastener 108 suchthat NFC tag 50 is fixedly retained on the back of faceplate cover 104.It is to be understood that NFC tag 50 can also be located between thefaceplate cover 104 and the electrical outlet 204. In particular, theNFC tag 50 is located adjacent to a back side of the faceplate cover104, wherein the NFC tag 50 can be removably detained on the back sideof the faceplate cover 104. In this manner, NFC tag 50 can be removablydetained on the back of faceplate cover 104 by locating tag opening 54over fastener 108 such that NFC tag 50 can be removably detained on theback of faceplate cover 104. It is to be further understood that NFC tag50 is then oriented such that near field communications tags 60 arelocated between the electrical outlet openings 106. Once the NFC tag 50has been properly retained on the back of faceplate cover 104,electrical outlet faceplate identification tag system 100 can be placedover a conventional electrical outlet (not shown) or electrical outlet204 so that the NFC tag 50 can be used to identify which electricalbreaker (404,406) in the electrical circuit breaker box or panel 400(FIG. 9) is electrically connected to and controls that particularelectrical outlet (or electrical circuit/electrical switch), as will bediscussed in greater detail later. It is to be understood that the NFCtag 50 may also be conventionally embedded within the structure of thefaceplate cover 104 with the important factor being that the NFC tag 50must be able to be read by a NFC capable reader. Furthermore, it is tobe understood that the NFC tag 50 may also be conventionally embeddedwithin or attached to conventional electrical appliances, such as lamps,fans, ovens, or the like with the important factor being that the NFCtag 50 must be able to be read by a NFC capable reader.

It is important to note that the faceplate cover 104 in this embodimentof the present invention must be constructed of any suitable, durable,non-electrically conductive material (anything except metal). If thefaceplate cover 104 in this embodiment of the present invention were tobe made of metal, for example, the information stored on NFC tag 50would not be able to be accessed by the device used to read theinformation stored on the near field communications tags 60.

Electrical Outlet Identification Tag System

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is illustrated electrical outlettag, system 200. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, electrical outletidentification tag system 200 includes, in part, conventional electricaloutlet bracket 202, electrical outlets 204, conventional electricaloutlet plug openings 206, conventional electrical connectors 208.conventional faceplate connector 210 and NFC tag 250. It is to beunderstood that electrical outlet bracket 202 is conventionally used tofixedly secure the electrical outlet identification tag system 200 to awall or other rigid structure, as is well known in the electrical arts.Also, electrical outlet plug openings 206 are used in conjunction withconventional electrical plugs (not shown) to allow the desiredelectrical device to receive electricity from electrical outlets 204.Finally, faceplate connector 210 is used in conjunction with fastener 8,108 in order to fixedly secure the faceplate 4, 104, respectively, tothe electrical outlet identification tag system 200.

Another unique aspect of the present invention is the use of NFC tag 250in electrical outlet identification tag system 200. As will be discussedin greater detail later, NFC tag 250 is conventionally located withinone or both of the electrical outlets 204, as shown in FIG. 6 such thatNFC tag 250 is fixedly retained within one or both of the electricaloutlets 204. In particular, NFC tag 250, preferably, is located a shortdistance under the surface of one or both of the electrical outlets 204.It is to be understood that NFC tag 250 should be located under thesurface of one or both of the electrical outlets 204 but at a distancethat allows NFC tag 250 to be read by a conventional NFC tag reader, aswill be discussed in greater detail later. Also, the size and shape ofNFC tag 250 should be such that NFC tag 250 is able to be properlylocated in the area between electrical outlet plug openings 206, asshown in FIG. 6. Once the NFC tag 250 has been properly retained withinthe surface of one or both of the electrical outlets 204, a conventionalelectrical outlet faceplate 4 can be conventionally secured over theelectrical outlets 204 so that the NFC tag 250 can be used to identifywhich electrical breaker (404,406) in the electrical circuit breaker boxor panel 400 (FIG. 9) is electrically connected to and controls thatparticular electrical outlet (or electrical circuit), as will bediscussed in greater detail later.

Another unique aspect of the present invention is that electrical outletidentification tag system 200 allows the NFC information on NFC tag 250to be accessed through a conventional device with near fieldcommunications (NFC) capabilities such as a mobile communications devicewithout removing the face plate 4 (FIG. 1). Of importance here is thatbecause the NFC tag 250 is located within the electrical outlet 204, themobile communications device is still able to send or receive a NFCsignal from NFC tag 250 even if the electrical outlet identification tagsystem 200 is located behind a metal cover plate.

Electrical Switch Identification Tag System

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, there is illustrated electrical switchidentification tag system 300. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, electricalswitch identification tag system 300 includes, in part, conventionalelectrical switch bracket 302, conventional electrical switch body 304,electrical switch 306, an electrical switch, paddle 307, conventionalelectrical connectors 308, conventional faceplate connectors 310 and NFCtag 350. It is to be understood that electrical outlet bracket 302 isconventionally used to fixedly secure the electrical switchidentification tag system 300 to a wall or other rigid structure, as iswell known in the electrical arts. Also, faceplate connector 310 is usedin conjunction with fasteners (not shown) in order to fixedly secure aconventional, electrical switch faceplate (not shown) to the electricalswitch identification tag system 300.

Another unique aspect of the present invention is the use of NFC tag 350in electrical switch identification tag system 300. As will be discussedin greater detail later, NFC tag 350 is conventionally located withinelectrical switch paddle 307, as shown in FIG. 8 such that NFC tag 350is fixedly retained in the electrical switch paddle 307. In particular,NFC tag 350, preferably, is located a short distance under the surfaceof electrical switch paddle 307. It is to be understood that NFC tag 350should be located under the surface of electrical switch paddle 307 butat a distance that allows NFC tag 350 to be read by a conventional NFCtag reader, as will be discussed in greater detail later. Also, the sizeand shape of NFC tag 350 should be such that NFC tag 350 is able to beproperly located in electrical switch paddle 307, as shown in FIG. 8.Once the NFC tag 350 has been properly retained within the electricalswitch paddle 307, a conventional electrical switch faceplate (notshown) can be conventionally secured over the electrical switch 306 andelectrical switch paddle 307 so that the NFC tag 350 can be used toidentify which electrical breaker (404,406) in the electrical circuitbreaker box or panel 400 (FIG. 9) is electrically connected to andcontrols that particular electrical switch 306, as will be discussed ingreater detail later.

Another unique aspect of the present invention is that electrical switchidentification tag system 300 allows for the NFC information to beaccessed through a conventional device with near field communications(NFC) capabilities such as a mobile communications device withoutremoving the face plate 4 (FIG. 1). Of importance here is that becausethe NFC tag 350 is located within the electrical switch paddle 307, themobile communications device is still able to send or receive the NFCsignal even if the NFC tag 350 is located behind a metal cover plate.

Electrical Outlet Faceplate Identification Tag System

Regarding FIGS. 9 and 10, there is illustrated electrical outletfaceplate identification tag system 700. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10,electrical outlet faceplate identification tag system 700 includes, inpart, faceplate cover 704, electrical outlet openings 706, fastener 708and NFC tag 750. It is to be understood that electrical outlet openings706 and fastener 708 function in substantially the same manner aselectrical outlet openings 6 and fastener 8 in FIG. 1. It is to befurther understood that faceplate cover 704, preferably, is constructedof any suitable, durable non-electrically conducting material (anythingexcept metal). Furthermore, it is to be understood that faceplate cover704 can be located over an electrical outlet such as electrical outlet204.

A unique aspect of the present invention is the use of NFC tag 750 inelectrical outlet faceplate identification tag system 700. As will bediscussed in greater detail later, NFC tag 750 is conventionallyembedded within a portion of faceplate cover 704. It is to be understoodthat electrical outlet faceplate identification tag system 700 can beplaced over a conventional electrical outlet (not shown) or electricaloutlet 204 so that the NFC tag 750 can, be used to identify whichelectrical breaker (404,406) in the electrical circuit breaker box orpanel 400 (FIG. 13) is electrically connected to and controls thatparticular electrical outlet (or electrical circuit/electrical switch),as will be discussed in greater detail later.

It is important to note that the faceplate cover 704 in this embodimentof the present invention must be constructed of any suitable, durable,non-electrically conductive material (anything except metal). If thefaceplate cover 704 in this embodiment of the present invention were tobe made of metal, for example, the information stored on NFC tag 750would not be able to be accessed by the device used to read theinformation stored on the near field communications tag 750.

Electrical Switch Faceplate Identification Tag System

Regarding FIGS. 11 and 12, there is illustrated electrical switchfaceplate identification tag system 800. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12,electrical switch faceplate identification tag system 800 includes, inpart, faceplate cover 804, electrical switch opening 806, fasteners 808and NFC tag 850. It is to be understood that electrical switch opening806 can be placed over an electrical switch such as the electricalswitch shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Also, fasteners 808 can be used toconventionally secure faceplate cover 804 to an electrical switch suchas the electrical switch shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. It is to be furtherunderstood that faceplate cover 804, preferably, is constructed of anysuitable, durable non-electrically conducting material (anything exceptmetal).

A unique aspect of the present invention is the use of NFC tag 850 inelectrical switch faceplate identification tag system 800. As will bediscussed in greater detail later, NFC tag 850 is conventionallyembedded within a portion of faceplate cover 804. It is to be understoodthat electrical switch faceplate identification tag system 800 can beplaced over a conventional electrical switch (not shown) or electricalswitch base 304 so that the NFC tag 850 can be used to identify whichelectrical breaker (404,406) in the electrical circuit breaker box orpanel 400 (FIG. 13) is electrically connected to and controls thatparticular electrical outlet (or electrical circuit/electrical switch),as will be discussed in greater detail later.

It is important to note that the faceplate cover 804 in this embodimentof the present invention must be constructed of any suitable, durable,non-electrically conductive material (anything except metal). If thefaceplate cover 804 in this embodiment of the present invention were tobe made of metal, for example, the information stored on NFC tag 850would not be able to be accessed by the device used to read theinformation stored on the near field communications tag 850.

Electrical Outlet Faceplate Identification Tag System

Regarding FIG. 22, there is illustrated electrical outlet faceplateidentification tag system 900. As shown in FIG. 22, electrical outletfaceplate identification tag system 900 includes, in part, faceplatecover 904, electrical outlet openings 906, fastener 908 and NFC tag 950.It is to be understood that electrical outlet openings 906 and fastener908 function in substantially the same manner as electrical outletopenings 6 and fastener 8 in FIG. 1. It is to be further understood thatfaceplate cover 904, preferably, is constructed of any suitable, durablematerial. Furthermore, it is to be understood that faceplate cover 904can be located over an electrical outlet such as electrical outlet 204.

A unique aspect of the present invention is the use of NFC tag 950 inelectrical outlet faceplate identification tag system 900. As will bediscussed in greater detail later, NFC tag 950 is conventionallyattached to the outer side (front face) of faceplate cover 904 (the sideof faceplate cover 904 that is located away from the electrical outlet).In this manner, the NFC tag 950 can be readily seen by the user so thatthe user can easily use the NFC tag 950 to identify which electricalbreaker (404,406) in the electrical circuit breaker box or panel 400(FIG, 13) is electrically connected to and controls that particularelectrical outlet (or electrical circuit/electrical switch). It is to beunderstood that electrical outlet faceplate identification tag system900 can be placed over a conventional electrical outlet (not shown) orelectrical outlet 204 so that the NFC tag 950 can be used to identifywhich electrical breaker (404,406) in the electrical circuit breaker boxor panel 400 (FIG. 13) is electrically connected to and controls thatparticular electrical outlet (or electrical circuit/electrical switch),as will be discussed in greater detail later.

It is important to note, that the faceplate cover 904 in this embodimentof the present invention is constructed of any suitable, durablematerial. Another unique aspect of the present invention is that in theembodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 22, it does notmatter if the faceplate cover 904 is made of metal, plastic or any othersuitable, durable material, as long as NFC tag 950 can be securelyattached to the front face of faceplate cover 904 and the informationstored on NFC tag 950 can be accessed by the device used to read theinformation stored on the near field communications tag 950.

Electrical Circuit Breaker Box or Panel Module

With reference to FIG. 13, there is illustrated conventional electricalcircuit breaker box or panel 400. As shown in FIG. 13, conventionalelectrical circuit breaker box or panel 400 includes, in part,conventional main circuit breaker 402 and conventional circuit breakers404 and 406.

It is to be understood that while the present invention has beendescribed for use with electrical outlets and/or electrical switches,other uses for the present invention include identifying and controllinglandline telephone jacks, cable connections, electrical switches, WIFIhotspots, motion sensors, light sensors and anything that is part of anelectrical circuit, particularly lights and appliances.

Operation of Electrical Outlet Faceplate Identification TagSystem/Electrical Outlet Identification Tag System and Electrical Switchidentification Tag System

Circuit Breaker Identification

With respect to the circuit breaker identification operation 500 of theelectrical outlet faceplate identification tag system 100, electricaloutlet identification tag system 200, electrical switch identificationtag system 300, electrical outlet identification tag system 700 andelectrical switch identification tag system 800 as shown in FIGS. 2-15,the circuit breaker operation 500 begins with the start step 502 (FIG.14) and the installation of the NFC tags 50, 250, 350, 750,850, and 950.As discussed above, the NFC tag 50 is attached to electrical outletfaceplate identification tag system 100, NFC tag 250 is located withinelectrical outlet 204 in electrical outlet identification tag system200, NFC tag 350 is located within electrical switch 306 in electricalswitch identification tag system 300, NFC tag 750 is located within faceplate 704 in electrical outlet identification tag system 700, NFC tag850 is located within face plate 804 in electrical switch identificationtag system 800, and NFC tag 950 is located on the front face of faceplate 904 in electrical switch identification tag system 900.

For simplicity sake, the following example will be based upon theattachment of NFC tag 50 to electrical outlet faceplate identificationtag system 100. It is to be understood that the use of NFC tag 250 withelectrical outlet 204 in electrical outlet identification tag system 200and NFC tag 350 with electrical switch 306 in electrical switchidentification tag system 300 will operate in substantially the samemanner.

Once NFC tag 50 has been attached to electrical outlet faceplateidentification tag system 100, as discussed above, the end user willthen conventionally determine which circuit breaker is electricallyconnected to that particular electrical outlet that the electricaloutlet faceplate identification tag system 100 is attached to, as shownin step 506 For example, the end user may have to go to the location ofthe electrical circuit breaker box or panel 400 and, turn off/torn onvarious circuit breakers to determine which circuit breaker iselectrically connected to that particular electrical outlet that theelectrical outlet faceplate identification tag system 100 is attachedto. In some instances, the various circuit breakers may already havemarkings or other forms of identification that signify what electricaloutlets are connected to that particular circuit breaker; however, thepresent invention solves this problem if the circuit breakers are notmarked or do not have any legible indication as to what electricalcircuits are electrically connected to that particular circuit breaker.

With respect to step 508, after it has been determined which electricaloutlets and/or electrical switches are electrically connected to aparticular circuit breaker, the end user then conventionally enters (orrecords) this information into a database by using an application thathas been downloaded onto the end user's mobile device, tablet or othersimilar mobile communications device. For example, it may be determinedthat the electrical outlets/electrical switches in the living room ofthe end user's residence are electrically connected to circuit breaker404 (FIG. 13) and that the electrical outlets/electrical switches in theguest bed room of the end user's residence are electrically connected tocircuit breaker 406. In this example, the end user enters theinformation that circuit breaker 404 is electricallyconnected/associated with the electrical outlets/electrical switches inthe living room. The end user then enters the information that circuitbreaker 406 is electrically connected/associated with the electricaloutlets/electrical switches in the guest bed room. It is also to beunderstood that step 508 may be completed without the application thathas been downloaded onto the end user's mobile device, tablet or othersimilar mobile communications device. In this instance, the end usersimply scans the NFC tag. The NFC reader in the NFC capable device willdisplay a web page showing information such as a description, room name,and photograph of the particular electrical outlets and/or electricalswitches and the circuit breaker electrically connected to thatparticular electrical outlet and/or electrical switch will be displayed,and the displayed information is associated with the tag's ID located onthe particular electrical outlets and/or electrical switches (and suchinformation would also be present in the application downloaded to theend user's device). The end user then conventionally enters (or records)the information about which electrical outlets and/or electricalswitches are electrically connected to a particular circuit breaker intoa database and the information is associated with the tag's ID locatedon the particular electrical outlets and/or electrical switches.

It is to be understood that the NFC tag 50, when read by a conventionaldevice such as the end user's mobile device, tablet or other similarmobile communications device, the device will open an application whichwill contain all the information stored on that NFC tag 50. For example,if there is a cover plate 104 with a NFC tag 50 that was conventionallylabeled “tag 404”, by holding the device within range of the NFC tag 50,a window would open on the end user's end user's mobile device, tabletor other similar mobile communications device. This window would havethe information on the NFC tag 50, in this case, that would be thenumber 404, along with what electrical outlets/electricalswitches/electrical circuits are electrically connected to breaker 404.It is to be understood that the information on the NFC tag 50 could alsodescribe light fixtures and appliances that are electrically connectedto a particular breaker.

The tag will come pre-programmed with a globally unique identifier(GUID) and additional code to link directly to either an application ora website where extended information can be stored and aggregated acrossall tags located in a building. The mobile device can also storeinformation for the connected circuit directly on the tag for use whenaccess to the application and/or the internet is unavailable. When theend user's mobile device, tablet or other similar mobile communicationsdevice comes into range of the NFC tag 50, the end user's mobile device,tablet or other similar mobile communications device conventionallyreads the GUID and opens the application on the end user's mobiledevice, tablet or other similar mobile communications device. A userthen would enter information into the app and the app links theinformation with the GUID on each NFC tag 50.

In order to check that the information regarding the electricalconnections between the various electrical outlets/electrical switcheslocated within the end user's residence has been correctly matched upwith the circuit breaker that is actually connected to that particularelectrical outlet/electrical switch, as shown in step 510, the end usercan go to the living room, for example. Once in the living room, the enduser can then use a conventional NFC reader (not shown) located with theend user's mobile communication device (smartphone) to detect the NFCtag 50 located within the electrical outlet faceplate identification tagsystem 100. After the NFC tag 50 has been conventionally detected, thedatabase in the end user's mobile communications device isconventionally accessed so that the circuit breaker that is electricallyconnected to the electrical outlet/electrical switch located in theliving room is shown or otherwise displayed to the end user.

Using the previous example, the end user simply goes to the end user'sliving room and conventionally scans one of the electrical faceplates104. Once the NFC reader in the end user's mobile communications devicereads or otherwise interacts with the NFC tag 50 in the electricaloutlet faceplate identification tag system 100, the database in the enduser's mobile communications device is accessed and the circuit breakernumber 404, for example, is displayed or otherwise shown to the enduser. In this manner, the end user can cross-check which electricaloutlet/electrical switch located in which rooms of a residence areelectrically connected to which circuit breakers. It is to be understoodthat a list of other outlets, switches, fixtures, and appliances on thatsame circuit may also be displayed. At this point, the operation 500ends, as shown in step 512.

It is to be understood that while the operation of the present inventionhas been described for use in a residential building the presentinvention can also be used in commercial buildings.

It is to be further understood that for wiring a new house, the NFC tags50 can be attached to cover faceplates 104 when they are beinginstalled, and the corresponding electrical outlet/electrical switch forthat circuit breaker is known.

Electrical Outlet/Electrical Switch Identification

With respect to determining which electrical outlets/electrical switchesare electrically connected to a particular circuit breaker, attention isnow directed to FIG. 15. Assume that circuit breaker 404 has tripped dueto an electrical short in the circuit controlled by breaker 404. Inorder to determine which electrical outlets/electrical switches areelectrically controlled by breaker 404, the electrical outlet/electricalswitch identification operation 600 starts at step 602.

As shown in step 604, the end user conventionally enters the circuitbreaker identifier such as the circuit breaker number (404 in thisexample) into the end user's mobile communications device.

As discussed above, the application in the end user's mobilecommunications device will then access the database connected to the enduser's mobile communication device to determine which electricaloutlet/electrical switch is electrically connected to the defectivecircuit breaker, as shown in step 606. In this example, the end user'smobile communications device will then display or otherwise show whichelectrical outlets/electrical switches are electrically connected to thecircuit controlled by breaker 404, as discussed earlier.

In order to check that the information regarding the electricalconnections between the various electrical outlets/electrical switcheslocated within the end user's residence has been correctly matched upwith the circuit breaker that is actually connected to that particularelectrical outlet/electrical switch, as shown in step 608, the end usercan replace the defective circuit breaker 404. Once the electrical shortin the circuit controlled by breaker 404 has been repaired, the end usercan then conventionally turn on the circuit breaker 404 and thendetermine if the electrical outlets/electrical switches located withinthe end user's living room are now operating. At this point, theoperation 600 ends, as shown in step 610.

Setting Up an Electrical Outlet/Electrical Switch

Regarding the operation 1600 of setting up an electricaloutlet/electrical switch, attention is now directed to FIG. 16 a. Withrespect to the operation 1600 of setting up the electrical outletfaceplate identification tag system 100, electrical outletidentification tag system 200, electrical switch identification tagsystem 300, electrical outlet identification tag system 700 andelectrical switch identification tag system 800 as shown in FIGS. 2-15,the operation 1600 of setting up an electrical outlet/electrical switchbegins with the start step 1602 (FIG. 16a ) and the installation of theNFC tags 50, 250, 350, 750, 850, and 950. As discussed above, the NFCtag 50 is attached to electrical outlet faceplate identification tagsystem 100, NFC tag 250 is located within electrical outlet 204 inelectrical outlet identification tag system 200, NFC tag 350 is locatedwithin electrical switch 306 in electrical switch identification tagsystem 300, NFC tag 750 is located within face plate 704 in electricaloutlet identification tag system 700, NFC tag 850 is located within faceplate 804 in electrical switch identification tag system 800, and NFCtag 950 is located on the front face of face plate 904 in electricalswitch identification tag system 900.

For simplicity sake, the following example will be based upon theattachment of NFC tag 50 to electrical outlet faceplate identificationtag system 00. It is to be understood that the use of NFC tag 250 withelectrical outlet 204 in electrical outlet identification tag system 200and NFC tag 350 with electrical switch 306 in electrical switchidentification tag system 300 will operate in substantially the samemanner.

Once NFC tag 50 has been attached to electrical outlet faceplateidentification tag system 100, as discussed above, the end user willthen touch or otherwise bring a conventional device such as the enduser's mobile device into close proximity to the NFC tag 50 (step 1604).In this manner, an input screen (not shown) on the end user's devicewill appear so that the end user can then conventionally enterinformation about that particular NFC tag 50 into the input screen. Moreparticularly, the end user may conventionally enter (or record) theinformation about the particular NFC tag 50 through the input screeninto a database by using an application that has been downloaded ontothe end user's mobile device (step 1606). The information about theparticular NFC tag 50 is then conventionally entered into a databaselocated on the end user's mobile device or located on a remote datastorage system conventionally connected to the end user's mobile device(step 1608). For example, it may be determined that the electricaloutlets/electrical switches in the living room of the end user'sresidence are electrically connected to circuit breaker 404 (FIG. 13)and that the electrical outlets/electrical switches in the guest bedroom of the end user's residence are electrically connected to circuitbreaker 406. In this example, the end user enters the information thatcircuit breaker 404 is electrically connected/associated with theelectrical outlets/electrical switches in the living room. The end userthen enters the information that circuit breaker 406 is electricallyconnected/associated with the electrical outlets/electrical switches inthe guest bed room. It is also to be understood that step 1606 may becompleted without the application that has been downloaded onto the enduser's mobile device. In this instance, the end user simply scans theNFC tag. The NFC reader in the NFC capable device (such as the enduser's mobile device) will display a web page showing information suchas a description, room name, and photograph of the particular electricaloutlets and/or electrical switches and the circuit breaker electricallyconnected to that particular electrical outlet and/or electrical switchwill be displayed, and the displayed information is associated with thetag's ID located on the particular electrical outlets and/or electricalswitches (and such information would also be present in the applicationdownloaded to the end user's device). The end user can thenconventionally enter information about that particular NFC tag 50 intothe input screen. More particularly, the end user may conventionallyenter (or record) the information about the particular NFC tag 50through the input screen into a database and the information isassociated with the tag's ID located on the particular electricaloutlets and/or electrical switches.

It is to be understood that the NFC tag 50, when read by a conventionaldevice such as the end user's mobile device, the device may also open anapplication on the end user's mobile device which will contain all theinformation stored on that NFC tag 50. For example, if there is a coverplate 104 with a NFC tag 50 that was conventionally labeled “tag 404”,by holding the mobile device within range of the NFC tag 50, a windowwould open on the end user's mobile device. This window would have theinformation on the NFC tag 50, in this case, that would be the number404, along with what electrical outlets/electrical switches/electricalcircuits are electrically connected to breaker 404. It is to beunderstood that the information on the NFC tag 50 could also describelight fixtures and appliances that are electrically connected to aparticular breaker.

It is to be understood that the NFC tag 50 may also come pre-programmedwith a globally unique identifier (GUID) and additional code to linkdirectly to either an application on the end user's mobile device or awebsite where extended information can be stored and aggregated acrossall tags located in a building. The mobile device can also storeinformation for the connected circuit directly on the NFC tag 50 for usewhen access to the application and/or the internet is unavailable. Whenthe end user's mobile device comes into range of the NFC tag 50, the enduser's mobile device conventionally reads the GUID and opens theapplication on the end user's mobile device. The end user could thenenter information into the application on the end user's mobile deviceand the application would then link the information with the GUID oneach NFC tag 50.

Maintaining an Electrical Outlet/Electrical Switch

In order to reset an electrical outlet in electrical outlet faceplateidentification tag system 100, for example, attention is now directed toFIG. 16 b. The operation 1650 of maintaining an electricaloutlet/electrical switch begins with the start step 1650 (FIG. 16b ).The end user will then touch or otherwise bring a conventional devicesuch as the end user's mobile device into close proximity to the NFC tag50 (step 1652). In this manner, an input screen (not shown) on the enduser's mobile device will appear so that the end user can thenconventionally enter information about that particular NFC tag 50 intothe input screen. In particular, the end user may conventionally enter(or record) the information about the particular NFC tag 50 into adatabase by using an application that has been downloaded onto the enduser's mobile device. More particularly, the end user may select anoption to reset information about a particular NFC tag 50 to a defaultsetting (step 1654). The updated information about the particular NFCtag 50 is then conventionally entered into a database located on the enduser's mobile device or located on a remote data storage systemconventionally connected to the end user's mobile device (step 1656).

For example, it may be determined that initially the electricaloutlets/electrical switches in the living room of the end user'sresidence are electrically connected to circuit breaker 404 (FIG. 13)but the electrical outlets/electrical switches in the living room wererecently connected to circuit breaker 406. However, further electricalwork in the living room required that the electrical outlets/electricalswitches in the living room to be electrically re-connected back tocircuit breaker 404. In this example, the end user touches theoutlets/electrical switches in the living room and then enters theinformation that circuit breaker 404 has been electricallyre-connected/associated with the electrical outlets/electrical switchesin the living room. It is also to be understood that step 1654 may becompleted without the application that has been downloaded onto the enduser's mobile device. In this instance, the end user simply scans theNFC tag 50. The NFC reader in the NFC capable device will display a webpage showing information such as a description, room name, andphotograph of the particular electrical outlets and/or electricalswitches and the circuit breaker electrically connected to thatparticular electrical outlet and/or electrical switch will be displayed,and the displayed information is associated with the tag's ID located onthe particular electrical outlets and/or electrical switches (and suchinformation would also be present in the application downloaded to theend user's device). Using the above example, the end user can then enterthe information that circuit breaker 404 has been electricallyre-connected/associated with the electrical outlets/electrical switchesin the living room.

Reading Electrical Outlet/Electrical Switch Information

Regarding the operation 1700 of reading outlet information, attention isnow directed to FIG. 17. With respect to the operation 1700 of readingoutlet information of the electrical outlet faceplate identification tagsystem 100, electrical outlet identification tag system 200, electricalswitch identification tag system 300, electrical outlet identificationtag system 700 and electrical switch identification tag system 800 asshown in FIGS. 2-15, the operation 1700 of reading outlet information ofan electrical outlet/electrical switch begins with the start step 1702after the installation of the NFC tags 50, 250, 350, 750, 850, and 950.As discussed above, the NFC tag 50 is attached to electrical outletfaceplate identification tag system 100, NFC tag 250 is located withinelectrical outlet 204 in electrical outlet identification tag system200, NFC tag 350 is located within electrical switch 306 in electricalswitch identification tag system 300, NFC tag 750 is located within faceplate 704 in electrical outlet identification tag system 700, NFC tag850 is located within face plate 804 in electrical switch identificationtag system 800, and NFC tag 950 is located on the front face of faceplate 904 in electrical switch identification tag system 900.

For simplicity sake, the following example will be based upon theattachment of NFC tag 50 to electrical outlet faceplate identificationtag system 100. It is to be understood that the use of NFC tag 250 withelectrical outlet 204 in electrical outlet identification tag system 200and NFC tag 350 with electrical switch 306 in electrical switchidentification tag system 300 operate in substantially the same manner.

Once NFC tag 50 has been attached to electrical outlet faceplateidentification tag system 100, as discussed above, the end user willthen touch or otherwise bring a conventional device such as the enduser's mobile device into close proximity to the NFC tag 50 (step 1704).In this manner, the information about the particular NFC tag 50 is thenconventionally retrieved from a database through an application locatedon the end user's mobile device or located on a remote data storagesystem conventionally connected to the end user's mobile device (step1706) and conventionally displayed on an input screen (not shown) on theend user's device so that the end user can then review the informationabout that particular NFC tag 50 on the input screen.

For example, it may be desired by the end user to determine whichcircuit breakers are electrically connected to the electricaloutletsielectrical switches in the living room of the end user'sresidence, and which circuit breakers are electrically connected to theelectrical outlets/electrical switches in the guest bed room of the enduser's residence because the end user is going to remodel the livingroom and the guest bed room and needs to know which circuit breakers toturn off prior to the beginning of the remodeling project. In thisexample, the end user simply touches each of the electricaloutlets/electrical switches in the living room and notes which circuit.breakers they are electrically connected to (for example, circuitbreaker 404 (FIG. 13)). The end user can then simply touch each of theelectrical outlets/electrical switches in the guest bedroom and notewhich breakers they are electrically connected to (for example, circuitbreaker 406). The end user can then turn off breakers 404 and 406 beforestarting work.

It is also to be understood that step 1706 may be completed without anapplication that has been downloaded onto the end user's mobile device.In this instance, the end user simply scans the NFC tag. The NFC readerin the NFC capable device will display a web page showing informationsuch as a description, room name, and photograph of the particularelectrical outlets and/or electrical switches and the circuit breakerelectrically connected to that particular electrical outlet and/orelectrical switch will be displayed, and the displayed information isassociated with the tag's ID located on the particular electricaloutlets and/or electrical switches (and such information would also bepresent in the application downloaded to the end user's device).

It is to be understood that the NFC tag 50, when read by a conventionaldevice such as the end user's mobile device, the device may also open anapplication on the end users mobile device which will contain all theinformation stored on that NFC tag 50. For example, if there is a coverplate 104 with a NFC tag 50 that was conventionally labeled “tag 404”,by holding the device within range of the NFC tag 50, a window wouldopen on the end users mobile device. This window would have theinformation on the NFC tag 50, in this case, that would be the number404, along with what electrical outlets/electrical switches/electricalcircuits are electrically connected to breaker 404. It its to beunderstood that the information on the NFC tag 50 could also describelight ixtures and appliances that are electrically connected to aparticular breaker.

It is to be understood that the NFC tag 50 may also come pre-programmedwith a globally unique identifier (GUID) and additional code to linkdirectly to either an application on the end users mobile device or awebsite where extended information can be stored and aggregated acrossall tags located in a building. The mobile device can also storeinformation for the connected circuit directly on the NFC tag 50 for usewhen access to the application and/or the Internet is unavailable. Whenthe end user's mobile device comes into range of the NFC tag 50, the enduser's mobile device conventionally reads the GUID and opens theapplication on the end user's mobile device. The end user could thenenter information into the application on the end user's mobile deviceand the application would then link the information with the GUID oneach NFC tag 50.

Creating a Listing of Electrical Outlet/Electrical Switch Information byCategory

Regarding the operation 1800 of creating a listing of electricaloutlet/electrical switch information by a category, attention, is nowdirected to FIG. 18. With respect to the operation 1800 of creating alisting of electrical outlet/electrical switch information by a categoryfor the outlet information of the electrical outlet faceplateidentification tag system 100, electrical outlet identification tagsystem 200, electrical switch identification tag system 300, electricaloutlet identification tag system 700 and electrical switchidentification tag system 800 as shown in FIGS. 2-15, the operation 1800of creating a listing of electrical outlet/electrical switch informationby a category begins with the start step 1802 after the installation ofthe NFC tags 50, 250, 350, 750, 850, and 950. As discussed above, theNFC tag 50 is attached to electrical outlet faceplate identification tagsystem 100, NFC tag 250 is located within electrical outlet 204 inelectrical outlet identification tag system 200, NFC tag 350 is locatedwithin electrical switch 306 in electrical switch identification tagsystem 300, NFC tag 750 is located within face plate 704 in electricaloutlet identification tag system 700, NFC tag 850 is located within faceplate 804 in electrical switch identification tag system 800, and NFCtag 950 is located on the front face of face plate 904 in electricalswitch identification tag system 900.

For simplicity sake, the following example will be based upon theattachment of NFC tag 50 to electrical outlet faceplate identificationtag system 100. It is to be understood that the use of NFC tag 250 withelectrical outlet 204 in electrical outlet identification tag system 200and NFC tag 350 with electrical switch 306 in electrical switchidentification tag system 300 will operate in substantially the samemanner.

Once NFC tag 50 has been attached to electrical outlet faceplateidentification tag system 100, as discussed above, the end user willthen access the end user's mobile device. In this manner, an inputscreen (not shown) on the end users device will appear so that the enduser can then conventionally enter information about a particularcategory or categories that the end user would like to organize into thevarious electrical outlets/electrical switches (step 1802). It is to beunderstood that the end user can also set up (create) a variety ofdifferent categories based upon a variety of relationships between theelectrical outlets/electrical switches and the circuit breakers. Moreparticularly, the end user may conventionally enter (or record) theinformation about the particular category or categories into a databaseby using an application that has been downloaded onto the end user'smobile device or located on a remote data storage system conventionallyconnected to the end user's mobile device.

As shown in step 1804, the end user can choose to view which electricaloutlets/electrical switches are associated with that particular category(step 1804) If the particular category has been previously created andstored in the database, the end user's device then will retrieve thedesired information from the data base and display the particularcategory on the end user's mobile device and all of the electricaloutlets/electrical switches and circuit breakers associated with thatparticular category (step 1806).

For example, it may be desired by the end user to determine whichcircuit breakers are electrically connected to the electricaloutlets/electrical switches in the living room of the end user's, andwhich circuit breakers are electrically connected to the electricaloutlets/electrical switches in the guest bed room of the end user'sresidence, because the end user is going to remodel the living room andthe guest bed room and needs to know which circuit breakers to turn offprior to the beginning of the remodeling project. In this example, theend user has previously created a category for room location of eachelectrical outlet/electrical switch that was filled in when eachelectrical outlet/electrical switch in the home was set up (operation1600). The end user can then view the electrical outlets/electricalswitches located in the living room (and see that all of them areelectrically connected to circuit breaker 404 in this example) and thenview the electrical outlets/electrical switches located in the guestbedroom (and see that all of them are electrically connected to circuitbreaker 406 in this example). In this manner, the end user can simplydetermine which circuit breakers are electrically connected to theelectrical outlets/electrical switches in the living room (circuitbreaker 404 in this example) and which circuit breakers are electricallyconnected to the electrical outlets/electrical switches in the guest bedroom (circuit breaker 406 in this example) so the end user knows whichbreakers to turn off during the remodeling project.

Monitoring Circuit Breakers

Regarding the operation 1900 of monitoring, a circuit breaker, attentionis now directed to FIG. 19 a. With respect to the operation 1900 ofmonitoring a circuit breaker using the outlet information of theelectrical outlet faceplate identification tag system 100, electricaloutlet identification tag system 200, electrical switch identificationtag system 300, electrical outlet identification tag system 700 andelectrical switch identification tag system 800 as shown in FIGS. 2-15,the operation 1900 of monitoring a circuit breaker using the outletinformation of an electrical outlet/electrical switch begins with thestart step 1902 after the installation of the NFC tags 50, 250, 350,750, 850, and 950. As discussed above, the NFC tag 50 is attached toelectrical outlet faceplate identification tag system 100, NFC tag 250is located within electrical outlet 204 in electrical outletidentification tag system 200, NFC tag 350 is located within electricalswitch 306 in electrical switch identification tag system 300, NFC tag750 is located within face plate 704 in electrical outlet identificationtag system 700, NFC tag 850 is located within face plate 804 inelectrical switch identification tag system 800, and NFC tag 950 islocated on the front face of face plate 904 in electrical switchidentification tag system 900.

For simplicity sake, the following example will be based upon theattachment of NFC tag 50 to electrical outlet faceplate identificationtag system 100. It is to be understood that the use of NFC tag 250 withelectrical outlet 204 in electrical outlet identification tag system 200and NFC tag 350 with electrical switch 306 in electrical switchidentification tag system 300 will operate in substantially the samemanner.

Once NFC tag 50 has been attached to electrical outlet faceplateidentification tag system 100, as discussed above, the end user can getinformation about the electrical state of a particular circuit breaker(step 1902) by either touching or otherwise bringing a conventionaldevice such as the end user's mobile device into close proximity to theNFC tag 50 (step 1906). In this manner, the electrical state informationabout the circuit breaker that it is connected to that particular NFCtag 50 is then conventionally retrieved from a database through anapplication located on the end user's mobile device or located on aremote data storage system conventionally connected to the end user'smobile device and conventionally displayed on an input screen (notshown) on the end user's device so that the end user can then review theelectrical state information about the circuit breaker on the inputscreen. It is to be understood that the current electrical state of thecircuit breaker is constantly being conventionally monitored and thecurrent electrical state of the circuit breaker is stored in thedatabase. Alternatively, the end user can also select a particularcircuit breaker from a list or category of circuit breakers (step 1904)that was set up, as previously discussed in operation 1800 of creating alisting of electrical outlet/electrical switch information by a category(FIG. 18).

For example, it may be desired by the end user to determine theelectrical state of circuit breaker 404 (FIG. 13) which is electricallyconnected to electrical outlets/electrical switches in the living roomof the end user's residence because the end user is going to remodel theliving room and the end user wants to make sure that circuit breaker 404has been turned off so that no one will experience an electrical shockwhile working on or around the electrical outlets/electrical switches inthe living room. It is to be understood that the term “electrical state”refers to whether the circuit breaker is “on” , or “tripped”. In thismanner, the electrical state information about circuit breaker 404 isthen conventionally retrieved from a database through an applicationlocated on the end user's mobile device or located on a remote datastorage system conventionally connected to the end user's mobile device(step 1908) and conventionally displayed on an input screen (not shown)on the end user's device so that the end user can then review theinformation about the electrical state of circuit breaker 404 on theinput screen (step 1910).

It is also to be understood that step 1908 may be completed without anapplication that has been downloaded onto the end user's mobile device.In this instance, the end user simply scans the NFC tag. The NFC readerin the NFC capable device will display a web page showing informationsuch as a description, room name, and photograph of the particularelectrical outlets and/or electrical switches and the circuit breakerelectrically connected to that particular electrical outlet and/orelectrical switch will be displayed, and the displayed information isassociated with the tag's ID located on the particular electricaloutlets and/or electrical switches (and such information would also bepresent in the application downloaded to the end user's device). In thismanner, the end user can see what circuit breaker is electricallyconnected to the particular electrical outlets and/or electricalswitches and check on the electrical state of that circuit breaker.

It is to be understood that the NFC tag 50 when read by a conventionaldevice such as the end user's mobile device, the device may also open anapplication on the end user's mobile device which will contain all theinformation stored on that NFC tag 50 and the circuit breaker associatedwith/electrically connected to that NFC tag 50. For example, if there isa cover plate 104 with a NFC tag 50 that was conventionally labeled “tag404”, by holding the device within range of the NFC tag 50, a windowwould open on the end user's mobile device. This window would have theinformation on the NFC tag 50. In this case, that would be the number404, along with what electrical outlets/electrical switches/electricalcircuits are electrically connected to breaker 404. In this manner, theend user can see what circuit breaker is electrically connected to theparticular electrical outlets and/or electrical switches and check onthe electrical state of that circuit breaker. It is to be understoodthat the information on the NFC tag 50 could also describe lightfixtures and appliances that are electrically connected to a particularbreaker.

It is to be understood that the NFC tag 50 may also come pre-programmedwith a globally unique identifier (GUID) and additional code to linkdirectly to either an application on the end user's mobile device or awebsite where extended information can be stored and aggregated acrossall tags located in a building. When the end user's mobile device comesinto range of the NFC tag 50, the end user's mobile deviceconventionally reads the GUID and opens the application on the enduser's mobile device. The application would then link the informationwith the GUID on each NFC tag 50. In this manner, the end user can seewhat circuit breaker is electrically connected to the particularelectrical outlets and/or electrical switches and check on theelectrical state of that circuit breaker.

Controlling Circuit Breakers

Regarding the operation 1950 of controlling a circuit breaker, attentionis now directed to FIG. 19 b. With respect to the operation 1950 ofcontrolling a circuit breaker using the outlet information of theelectrical outlet faceplate identification tag system 100, electricaloutlet identification tag system 200, electrical switch identificationtag system 300, electrical outlet identification tag system 700 andelectrical switch identification tag system 800 as shown in FIGS. 2-15,the operation 1950 of controlling a circuit breaker using the outletinformation of an electrical outlet/electrical switch begins with thestart step 1952 after the installation of the NFC tags 50, 250, 350,750, 850, and 950. As discussed above, the NFC tag 50 is attached toelectrical outlet faceplate identification tag system 100, NFC tag 250is located within electrical outlet 204 in electrical outletidentification tag system 200, NFC tag 350 is located within electricalswitch 306 in electrical switch identification tag system 300, NFC tag750 is located within face plate 704 in electrical outlet identificationtag system 700, NFC tag 850 is located within face plate 804 inelectrical switch identification tag system 800, and NFC tag 950 islocated on the front face of face plate 904 in electrical switchidentification tag system 900.

For simplicity sake, the following example will be based upon theattachment of NFC tag 50 to electrical outlet faceplate identificationtag system 10. It is to be understood that the use of NFC tag 250 withelectrical outlet 204 in electrical outlet identification tag system 200and NFC tag 350 with electrical switch 306 in electrical switchidentification tag system 300 will operate in substantially the samemanner.

Once NFC tag 50 has been attached to electrical outlet faceplateidentification tag system 100, as discussed above, the end user can getinformation about the electrical state of a particular circuit breaker(step 1952) by either touching or otherwise bringing a conventionaldevice such as the end user's mobile device into close proximity to theNFC tag 50 (step 1956). In this manner, the electrical state informationabout the circuit breaker that it is connected to that particular NFCtag 50 is then conventionally retrieved from a database through anapplication located on the end user's mobile device or located on aremote data storage system conventionally connected to the end user'smobile device and conventionally displayed on an input screen (notshown) on the end user's device so that the end user can then review theelectrical state information about the circuit breaker on the inputscreen.

Alternatively, the end user can also select a particular circuit breakerfrom a list or category of circuit breakers (step 1954) that was set up,as previously discussed in operation 1800 of creating a listing ofelectrical outlet/electrical switch information by a category (FIG. 18).

For example, it may be desired by the end user to control the electricalstate of circuit breaker 404 (FIG. 13) which is electrically connectedto electrical outlets/electrical switches in the living, room of the enduser's residence because the end user is going to remodel the livingroom and the end user wants to shut off that circuit breaker 404 so thatno one will experience an electrical shock while working on or aroundthe electrical outlets/electrical switches in the living room. It is tobe understood that the term “electrical state” refers to whether thecircuit breaker is on, off, or tripped. In this manner, the informationabout the current electrical state of circuit breaker 404 is thenconventionally retrieved from a database through an application locatedon the end users mobile device or located on a remote data storagesystem conventionally connected to the end user's mobile device andconventionally displayed on an input screen (not shown) on the end usersdevice so that the end user can then review the information about thecurrent state of circuit breaker 404 on the input screen, as previouslydiscussed (step 1910 in FIG. 19a ). It is to be understood that thecurrent electrical state of the circuit breaker is constantly beingconventionally monitored and the current electrical state of the circuitbreaker is stored in the database. If circuit breaker 404 is currentlyon, the end user will then select the “off” electrical state on theinput screen (step 1958). The circuit breaker 404 will then beconventionally turned to an “off” position and a command isconventionally sent to the circuit breaker to turn off that particularcircuit breaker (step 1960).

It is also to be understood that step 1958 may be completed without anapplication that has been downloaded onto the end users mobile device.In this instance, the end user simply scans the NFC tag. The NFC readerin the NFC capable device will display a web page showing informationsuch as a description, room name, and photograph of the particularelectrical outlets and/or electrical switches and the circuit breakerelectrically connected to that particular electrical outlet and/orelectrical switch will be displayed, and the displayed information isassociated with the tag's ID located on the particular electricaloutlets and/or electrical switches (and such information would also bepresent in the application downloaded to the end user's device). Thecurrent state of the circuit breaker electrically connected to the NFCtag will be displayed to the end user. The end user can then change theelectrical state of the circuit breaker. Finally, the electrical stateof the circuit breaker will be changed to the desired new state, asdiscussed earlier.

It is to be understood that the NFC tag 50, when read by a conventionaldevice such as the end user's mobile device, the device may also open anapplication on the end user's mobile device which will contain all theinformation stored on that NFC tag 50 and the circuit breaker associatedwith/electrically connected to that NFC tag 50. For example, if there isa cover plate 104 with a NFC tag 50 that was conventionally labeled“circuit breaker tag 404”, by holding the device within range of the NFCtag 50, a window would open on the end user's mobile device. This windowwould have the information on the NFC tag 50. In this case, that wouldbe the number 404, along with what electrical outlets/electricalswitches/electrical circuits are electrically connected to breaker 404.The current electrical state of the circuit breaker electricallyconnected to the NFC tag will be displayed to the end user. The end usercan then change the electrical state of the circuit breaker. Finally,the electrical state of the circuit breaker will be changed to thedesired new electrical state, as discussed earlier. It is to beunderstood that the information on the NFC tag 50 could also describelight fixtures and appliances that are electrically connected to aparticular breaker.

It is to be understood that the NFC tag 50 may also come pre-programmedwith a globally unique identifier (GUID) and additional code to linkdirectly to either an application on the end user's mobile device or awebsite where extended information can be stored and aggregated acrossall NFC tags located in a building and which circuit breaker is attachedto which NFC tags. When the end user's mobile device comes into range ofthe NFC tag 50, the end user's mobile device conventionally reads theGUID and opens the application on the end user's mobile device. Theapplication would then link the information with the GUID on each NFCtag 50. The current electrical state of the circuit breaker electricallyconnected to the NFC tag will be displayed to the end user. The end usercan then change the electrical state of the circuit breaker. Finally,the electrical state of the circuit breaker will be changed to thedesired new state, as discussed earlier.

Monitoring a Change in a Circuit Breaker State

Regarding the operation 2000 of monitoring a change in an electricalstate of a circuit breaker, attention is now directed to FIG. 20. Withrespect to the operation 2000 of monitoring a change in an electricalstate of a circuit breaker using the outlet information of theelectrical outlet faceplate identification tag system 100, electricaloutlet identification tag system 200, electrical switch identificationtag system 300, electrical outlet identification tag system 700 andelectrical switch identification tag system 800 as shown in FIGS. 2-15,the operation 2000 of monitoring a change in an electrical state of acircuit breaker using the outlet information of an electricaloutlet/electrical switch begins with the start step 2002 after theinstallation of the NFC tags 50, 250, 350, 750, 850, and 950. Asdiscussed above, the NFC tag 50 is attached to electrical outletfaceplate identification tag system 100, NFC tag 250 is located withinelectrical outlet 204 in electrical outlet identification tag system200, NFC tag 350 is located within electrical switch 306 in electricalswitch identification tag system 300, NFC tag 750 is located within faceplate 704 in electrical outlet identification tag system 700, NFC tag850 is located within face plate 804 in electrical switch identificationtag system 800, and NFC tag 950 is located on the front face of faceplate 904 in electrical switch identification tag system 900.

For simplicity sake, the following example will be based upon theattachment of NFC tag 50 to electrical outlet faceplate identificationtag system 100. It is to be understood that the use of NFC tag 250 withelectrical outlet 204 in electrical outlet identification tag system 200and NFC tag 350 with electrical switch 306 in electrical switchidentification tag system 300 will operate in substantially the samemanner.

Once NFC tag 50 has been attached to electrical outlet faceplateidentification tag system 100, as discussed above, the end user can getinformation about a change in an electrical state of a particularcircuit breaker (step 2002) by getting information about the particularcircuit breaker that is electrically connected to the NFC tag 50 Inparticular, the end user is notified through the end user's mobiledevice that the electrical state of the particular circuit breaker thatis electrically connected to NFC tag 50 has been changed from “on” to“off” (step 2004). It is to be understood that “electrical state” of acircuit breaker refers to the circuit breaker being “on” “off” or“tripped”. For example, circuit breaker 404 may have experienced a powersurge which caused circuit breaker 404 to change its electrical statefrom “on” to “tripped” which is a common result when a circuit breakerexperiences an undesired power surge. In this manner, the end user willbe notified that circuit breaker 404 has changed its state from “on” to“tripped”.

It is to be understood that there are several ways in which the end usercan be notified when the electrical state of a circuit breaker has beenchanged. For example, but not limited to, the end user can receive anelectronic mail communication (e-mail), a text message, a pushnotification or the like.

A unique aspect of the present invention is that the end user's mobiledevice is in constant communication with a conventional server (notshown) that is in communication with the circuit breaker to determine ifthe current electrical state of the circuit breaker has changed (step2006). In particular, the server conventionally communicates with thecircuit breaker, stores information about the current electrical stateof the circuit breaker in a database located on the end user's mobiledevice or located on a remote data storage system conventionallyconnected to the end user's mobile device and the end user's mobiledevice (or whatever device the end user has dedicated to continuallycheck the state of the circuit breaker) continually checks the data baseto determine if the current electrical state of the circuit breaker haschanged. As discussed above, if the electrical state of the circuitbreaker has changed, then the end user is notified of the change in thecurrent electrical state of the circuit breaker. It, is to be understoodthat this constant communication between the server, the circuit breakerand the electrical outlet can also be applied to operations 1900 and1950.

For example, it may be desired by the end user to determine the currentelectrical state of circuit breaker 404 (FIG. 13) which is electricallyconnect to electrical outlets/electrical switches in the fish tank inthe living room of the end user's residence because the end user isgoing to be on vacation and does not want the fish tank filter to stoprunning if there is a power outage which will cause a change inelectrical state of circuit breaker 404. In this manner, the informationabout the current electrical state of circuit breaker 404 is constantlymonitored (step 2006) and, if the electrical state of circuit breaker404 changes due to a tripped circuit breaker, the end user is notifiedthrough the end user's mobile device (step 2006), as discussed above.

It is to be understood that the NFC tag 50, when read by a conventionaldevice such as the end user's mobile device, the device may also open anapplication on the end user's mobile device which will contain all theinformation stored on that NFC tag 50 and the circuit breaker associatedwith/electrically connected to that NFC tag 50. For example, if there isa cover plate 104 with a NFC tag 50 that was conventionally labeled“circuit breaker tag 404”, by holding the device within range of the NFCtag 50, a window would open on the end user's mobile device. This windowwould have the information on the NFC tag 50. In this case, that wouldbe the number 404, along with what electrical outlets/electricalswitches/electrical circuits are electrically connected to breaker 404.In this manner, the end user could determine the electrical state of thecircuit breaker electrically connected to NFC tag 50. If NFC tag 50 orother important electrical appliances or the like are electricallyconnected to circuit breaker 404 and circuit breaker 404 changes itselectrical state (e.g., goes from “on” to “off”), the end user will thenbe informed of the change in electrical state of the circuit breaker andmake a determination if other measures need to be taken. For example, ifthe fish tank filter and the automatic light timer are both electricallyconnected to circuit breaker 404, the end user may have to call a friendto go check on the circuit breaker.

Managing End Users New End Users

Regarding the operation 2100 of managing new end users, attention is nowdirected to FIG. 21 a. With respect to the operation 2100 of managingnew end users using the outlet information of the electrical outletfaceplate identification tag system 100, electrical outletidentification tag system 200, electrical switch identification tagsystem 300, electrical outlet identification tag system 700 andelectrical switch identification tag system 800 as shown in FIGS. 2-15,the operation 2100 of managing new end users begins with the start step2102 after the installation of the NFC tags 50, 250, 350, 750, 850, and950. As discussed above, the NFC tag 50 is attached to electrical outletfaceplate identification tag system 100, NFC tag 250 is located withinelectrical outlet 204 in electrical outlet identification tag system200, NFC tag 350 is located within electrical switch 306 in electricalswitch identification tag system 300, NFC tag 750 is located within faceplate 704 in electrical outlet identification tag system 700, NFC tag850 is located within face plate 804 in electrical switch identificationtag system 800, and NFC tag 950 is located on the front face of faceplate 904 in electrical switch identification tag system 900.

For simplicity sake, the following example will be based upon theattachment of NFC tag 50 to electrical outlet faceplate identificationtag system 100. is to be understood that the use of NFC tag 250 withelectrical outlet 204 in electrical outlet identification tag system 200and NFC tag 350 with electrical switch 306 in electrical switchidentification tag system 300 will operate in substantially the samemanner.

Once NFC tag 50 has been attached to electrical outlet, faceplateidentification tag system 100, as discussed above, the end user can thenbe registered by conventionally accessing an application located on theend user's mobile device or located on a remote system conventionallyconnected to the end user's mobile device. The application willconventionally interact with an input screen (not shown) on the enduser's mobile device so that the end user can begin to conventionallyset up (create) a new account that will allow the end user to access anyor all of the NFC tags 50, 250, 350, 750, 850, 950 and/or the circuitbreakers electrically connected to NFC tags 50, 250, 350 750, 850, and950 (step 2104).

It is to be understood that when the end user desires to set up a newaccount, the end user may use the end user's mobile device to open anapplication or a web page on the, end user's mobile device which willcontain all the information regarding NFC tags 50, 250, 350, 750, 850,and 950 and/or the circuit breakers electrically connected to NFC tags50, 250, 350, 750, 850, and 950. However, in order for the new end userto be able to access and initially record the information about NFC tags50, 250, 350, 750, 850, and 950 and/or the circuit breakers electricallyconnected to NFC tags 50, 250, 350, 750, 850, and 950, the end user willhave to use the application in order to conventionally set up a newaccount.

As shown in step 2106 the end user will then conventionally enter thedesired information into the input screen of the end user's mobiledevice that will allow the end user to set up a secure new account. Forexample, the end user may be required to enter a user name, a password,at least the answer to one (1) security question, and/or the like. Afterthe end user's account information has been entered, into the databaseand conventionally checked to make sure that similar information has notalready been entered into the database for another end user and that theend user has entered into the database the required information, the newaccount details for the new end user are then conventionally saved inthe database of accounts (step 2108).

Existing End Users

If the end user has already set up an account, the end user can insteadproceed with the operation 2120 of managing existing end users, as shownin FIG. 21 b. With respect to the operation 2120 of managing existingend users using the outlet information of the electrical outletfaceplate identification tag system 100, electrical outletidentification tag system 200, electrical switch identification tagsystem 300, electrical outlet identification tag system 700 andelectrical switch identification tag system 800 as shown in FIGS. 2-15,the operation 2120 of managing new, end users begins with the start step2122 after the installation of the NFC tags 50, 250, 350, 750, 850, and950. As discussed above, the NFC tag 50 is attached to electrical outletfaceplate identification tag system 100, NFC tag 250 is located withinelectrical outlet 204 in electrical outlet identification tag system200, NFC tag 350 is located within electrical switch 306 in electricalswitch identification tag system 300, NFC tag 750 is located within faceplate 704 in electrical outlet identification tag system 700, NFC tag850 is located within face plate 804 in electrical switch identificationtag system 800, and NFC tag 950 is located on the front face of faceplate 904 in electrical switch identification tag system 900

For simplicity sake, the following example will be based upon theattachment of NFC tag 50 to electrical outlet faceplate identificationtag system 100. It is to be understood that the use of NFC tag 250 withelectrical outlet 204 in electrical outlet identification tag system 200and NFC tag 350 with electrical switch 306 in electrical switchidentification tag system 300 will operate in substantially the samemanner.

Once NFC tag 50 has been attached to electrical outlet faceplateidentification tag system 100, as discussed above, the end user can thenconventionally log into the database located on the end user's mobiledevice or located on a remote data storage system conventionallyconnected to the end user's mobile device (step 2124). It is to beunderstood that the database will contain, among other things,information related to NFC tags 50, 250, 350, 750, 850, and 950 and/orthe circuit breakers electrically connected to NFC tags 50, 250, 350,750, 850, and 950. Once the end user's log in credentials have beenapproved/authenticated (step 2126), the database will conventionallyinteract with an input screen (not shown) on the end user's mobiledevice so that the end user will be able to access the information aboutany or all of the NFC tags 50, 250, 350, 750, 850, and 950 and/or thecircuit breakers electrically connected to NFC tags 50, 250, 350, 750,850, and 950 (step 2128). In this manner, the end user will be allowedto monitor any or all of the NFC tags 50, 250, 350, 750, 850, and 950and/or the circuit breakers electrically connected to NFC tags 50, 250,350, 750, 850, and 950 and/or control any or all of the circuit breakerselectrically connected to NFC tags 50, 250, 350, 750, 850, and 950, aspreviously discussed.

It is to be understood that when the end user desires to log into anexisting account, the end user may use the end user's mobile device toopen an application on the end user's mobile device which will containall the information stored on the end user's mobile device regarding NFCtags 50, 250, 350, 750, 850, and 950 and/or the circuit breakerselectrically connected to NFC tags 50, 250, 350, 750, 850, and 950.

End User Log Out Process

Once the end user has finished monitoring any or all of the NFC tags 50,250, 350, 750, 850, and 950 and/or the circuit breakers electricallyconnected to NFC tags 50, 250, 350, 750, 850, and 950 and/or controllingany or all of the circuit breakers electrically connected to NFC tags50, 250, 350, 750, 850, and 950, the end user can proceed with theoperation 2140 of logging off of the database as shown in FIG. 21 c,With respect to the operation 2140 of logging off of the database usingthe outlet information of the electrical outlet faceplate identificationtag system 100, electrical outlet, identification tag system 200,electrical switch identification tag system 300, electrical outletidentification tag system 700 and electrical switch identification tagsystem 800 as shown in FIGS. 2-15, the operation 2140 of logging off ofthe database begins with the start step 2142 after the end user hasfinished monitoring any or all of the NFC tags 50, 250, 350, 750, 850,and 950 and/or the circuit breakers electrically connected to NFC tags50, 250, 350, 750, 850, and 950 and/or controlling any or all of thecircuit breakers electrically connected to NFC tags 50, 250, 350, 750,850, and 950.

As shown in step 2144, the end user can then conventionally log off ofthe database located on the end user's mobile device or located on aremote data storage system conventionally connected to the end user'smobile device. It is to be understood that the database will contain,among other things, updated information related to NFC tags 50, 250,350, 750, 850, and 950 and/or the circuit breakers electricallyconnected to NFC tags 50, 250, 350, 750, 850, and 950. For example, theinformation about which NFC tags are connected to which circuit breakersmay have been changed and/or the electrical state of any or all of thecircuit breakers may have been changed.

It is to be understood that when the end user desires to log off of anexisting account, the end user may use the end user's mobile device toclose an application (end an authentication session) on the end user'smobile device which will contain all the information stored on the enduser's mobile device regarding NFC tags 50, 250, 350, 750, 850, and 950and/or the circuit breakers electrically connected to NFC tags 50, 250,350, 750, 850, and 950.

Once the end user has been properly logged off of the database, the enduser data and settings are removed or made inaccessible from theapplication (step 2146).

Modifying End User Settings

Regarding the operation 2160 of modifying end user settings, attentionis now directed to FIG. 21 d. With respect to the operation 2160 ofmodifying end user settings using the outlet information of theelectrical outlet faceplate identification tag system 100, electricaloutlet identification tag system 200, electrical switch identificationtag system 300, electrical outlet identification tag system 700 andelectrical switch identification tag system 800 as shown in FIGS. 2-15,the operation 2160 of modifying end user settings begins with the startstep 2162 after the end user has logged into the database havinginformation about NFC tags 50, 250, 350, 750, 850, and 950 and/or thecircuit breakers electrically connected to NFC tags 50, 250, 350, 750,850, and 950. As discussed above, the NFC tag 50 is attached toelectrical outlet faceplate identification tag system 100, NFC tag 250is located within electrical outlet 204 in electrical outletidentification tag system 200, NFC tag 350 is located within electricalswitch 306 in electrical switch identification tag system 300, NFC tag750 is located within face plate 704 in electrical outlet identificationtag system 700, NFC tag 850 is located within face plate 804 inelectrical switch identification tag system 800, and NFC tag 950 islocated on the front face of face plate 904 in electrical switchidentification tag system 900.

For simplicity sake, the following example will be based upon theattachment of NFC tag 50 to electrical outlet faceplate identificationtag system 100. It is to be understood that the use of NFC tag 250 withelectrical outlet 204 in electrical outlet identification tag system 200and NFC tag 350 with electrical switch 306 in electrical switchidentification tag system 300 will operate in substantially the samemanner.

Once NFC tag 50 has been attached to electrical outlet faceplateidentification tag system 100, as discussed above, the end user can thenmodify the end user's settings by conventionally accessing the databaselocated on the end user's mobile device or located on a remote datastorage system conventionally connected to the end user's mobile device.Once the database has been accessed, the end user can then choose toedit the end user's application settings by conventionally interactingwith an input screen (not shown) on the end user's mobile device (step2164).

It is to be understood that when the end user desires to modify the enduser's settings, the end user may use the end user's mobile device toopen an application on the end user's mobile device which will containall the information stored on the end user's mobile device regarding NFCtags 50, 250, 350, 750, 850, and 950 and/or the circuit breakerselectrically connected to NFC tags 50, 250, 350, 750, 850, and 950.

As shown in step 2166, the end user will then conventionally enter thedesired end user settings information into the input screen of the enduser's mobile device that will allow the end user to update the endusers settings. For example, the end user may desire to change the username, the password, the answer to the security question, and/or thelike. After the end user's new settings information have beenconventionally entered into the database and conventionally checked tomake sure that similar setting information has not already been enteredinto the database for another end user and that the end user has enteredinto the database the required new setting information, the new end usersetting information is then conventionally saved in the database ofaccounts (step 2168).

The preceding merely illustrates the principles of the invention. Itwill thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able todevise various arrangements which, although not explicitly described orshown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are includedwithin its spirit and scope. Furthermore, all examples and conditionallanguage recited herein are principally intended expressly to be onlyfor pedagogical purposes and to aid the reader in understanding theprinciples of the invention and the concepts contributed by theinventors to furthering the art, and are to be construed as beingwithout limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions.Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, andembodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, areintended to encompass both structural and functional equivalentsthereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include bothcurrently known equivalents and equivalents developed in the future,i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardlessof structure.

This description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to be read inconnection with the figures of the accompanying drawing, which are to beconsidered part of the entire written description. In the description,relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,”“above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well asderivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,”etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then describedor as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms arefor convenience of description and do not require that, the apparatus beconstructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms concerningattachments, coupling and the like, such as “connected” and“interconnected,” refer to a relationship wherein structures are securedor attached to one another either directly or indirectly throughintervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments orrelationships, unless expressly described otherwise.

All patents, publications, scientific articles, web sites, and otherdocuments and materials referenced or mentioned herein are indicative ofthe levels of skill of those skilled in the art to which the inventionpertains, and each such referenced document and material is herebyincorporated by reference to the same extent as if it had beenincorporated by reference in its entirety individually or set forthherein in its entirety.

The applicant reserves the right to physically incorporate into thisspecification any and all materials and information from any suchpatents, publications, scientific articles, web sites, electronicallyavailable information, and other referenced materials or documents tothe extent such incorporated materials and information are notinconsistent with the description herein.

The written description portion of this patent includes all claims.Furthermore, all claims, including all original claims as well as allclaims from any and all priority documents, are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety into the written description portion of thespecification, and Applicant(s) reserve the right to physicallyincorporate into the written description or any other portion of theapplication, any and all such claims. Thus, for example, under nocircumstances may the patent be interpreted as allegedly not providing awritten description for a claim on the assertion that the precisewording of the claim not set forth in haec verba in written descriptionportion of the patent.

The claims will be interpreted according to law. However, andnotwithstanding the alleged or perceived ease or difficulty ofinterpreting any claim or portion thereof, under no circumstances mayany adjustment or amendment of a claim or any portion thereof duringprosecution of the application or applications leading to this patent beinterpreted as having forfeited any right to any and all equivalentsthereof that do not form a part of the prior art.

All of the features disclosed in this specification may be combined inany combination. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each featuredisclosed is only an example of a generic series of equivalent orsimilar features.

It is to be understood that while the invention has been described inconjunction with the detailed description thereof, the foregoingdescription is intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of theinvention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. Thus,from the foregoing, it will be appreciated that, although specificembodiments of the invention have been described herein for the purposeof illustration, various modifications may be made without deviatingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. Other aspects, advantages,and modifications are within the scope of the following claims and thepresent invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.

The specific methods and compositions described herein arerepresentative of preferred embodiments and are exemplary and notintended as limitations on the scope of the invention. Other objects,aspects, and embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art uponconsideration of this specification, and are encompassed within thespirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the claims. It willbe readily apparent to one skilled in the art that varying substitutionsand modifications may be made to the invention disclosed herein withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention. The inventionillustratively described herein suitably may be practiced in the absenceof any element or elements, or limitation or limitations, which is notspecifically disclosed herein as essential. Thus, for example, in eachinstance herein, in embodiments or examples of the present invention,the terms “comprising”, “including”, “containing”, etc. are to be readexpansively and without limitation. The methods and processesillustratively described herein suitably may be practiced in differingorders of steps, and that they are not necessarily restricted to theorders of steps indicated herein or in the claims.

The terms and expressions that have been employed are used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation, and there is no intent in the use ofsuch terms and expressions to exclude any equivalent of the featuresshown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized thatvarious modifications are possible within the scope of the invention asclaimed. Thus, it will be understood that although the present inventionhas been specifically disclosed by various embodiments and/or preferredembodiments and optional features, any and all modifications andvariations of the concepts herein disclosed that may be resorted to bythose skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of thisinvention as defined by the appended claims.

The invention has been described broadly and generically herein. Each ofthe narrower species and sub-generic groupings falling within thegeneric disclosure also form part of the invention. This includes thegeneric description of the invention with a proviso or negativelimitation removing any subject matter from the genus, regardless ofwhether or not the excised material is specifically recited herein.

It is also to be understood that as used herein and in the appendedclaims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referenceunless the context clearly dictates otherwise, the term “X and/or Y”means “X” or “V” or both “X” and “Y”, and the letter “s” following anoun designates both the plural and singular forms of that noun.

Other embodiments are within the following claims. Therefore, the patentmay not be interpreted to be limited to the specific examples orembodiments or methods specifically and/or expressly disclosed herein.Under no circumstances may the patent be interpreted to be limited byany statement made by any Examiner or any other official or employee ofthe Patent and Trademark Office unless such statement is specificallyand without qualification or reservation expressly adopted in aresponsive writing by Applicants.

Therefore, provided herein is a new and improved identification tag thatcan be used to identify which electrical breaker in the electricalcircuit breaker box or panel is electrically connected to and controls aparticular electrical outlet (or electrical circuit/electrical switch).The preferred identification tag that can be used to identify whichelectrical breaker in the electrical circuit breaker box or panel iselectrically connected to and controls a particular electrical outlet(or electrical circuit/electrical switch), according to variousembodiments of the present invention, offers the following advantages:ease of use; lightness in weight; the ability to allow the informationto be accessed through a device with near field communications (NFC)capabilities without removing the cover faceplate; the ability toidentify all outlets, switches, fixtures, and appliances connected to aparticular circuit breaker; the ability to use the tag in a commercialor residential building; durability; improved ability to identify whichelectrical breaker in the electrical circuit breaker box or panel iselectrically connected to and controls a particular electrical outlet(or electrical circuit/electrical switch); the ability to attach the tagto an electrical outlet; the ability to attach the tag to an electricalswitch face plate; the ability to attach the tag to an electricalswitch; reduced downtime when replacing an electrical switch, electricaloutlet, electrical circuit and/or circuit breaker; the ability to createa list of electrical outlets/electrical switches associated with theidentification tag(s); the ability to monitor and/or control a circuitbreaker through the use of the identification tag(s); and the ability tomanage the users with which identification tag(s) are associated. Infact, in many of the preferred embodiments, these advantages areoptimized to an extent that is considerably higher than heretoforeachieved in, prior, known identification systems and devices used toidentify which switch controls a specific circuit (or electricaloutlet/electrical switch) in a residential or commercial building.

1. A system for identifying which electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuit; breaker, comprising: an electrical outlet faceplate cover having at least one electrical outlet opening and a fastener located adjacent to the at least one electrical outlet opening such that the electrical outlet faceplate cover is located over an electrical outlet; a circuit breaker panel having at least one circuit breaker located on the circuit breaker panel; and a near field communications tag embedded within the electrical outlet faceplate cover such that the near field communications tag contains information related to which of the at least one circuit breakers is electrically connected to the electrical outlet.
 2. The system for identifying which electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuit breaker, according to claim 1, wherein the electrical outlet faceplate cover is further comprised of: a durable material.
 3. The system for identifying which electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuit breaker, according to claim 1, wherein the near field communications tag is located adjacent to the at least one electrical outlet opening.
 4. A method for identifying which electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuit breaker, comprising the steps of: providing an electrical outlet faceplate cover having at least one electrical outlet opening and a fastener located adjacent to the at least one electrical outlet opening such that the electrical outlet faceplate cover is located over an electrical outlet; providing a circuit breaker panel having at least one circuit breaker located on the circuit breaker panel; and providing a near field communications tag embedded within the electrical outlet faceplate cover such that the near field communications tag is capable of containing information related to which of the at least one circuit breaker is electrically connected to the electrical outlet.
 5. The method for identifying which electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuit breaker, as in claim 4, wherein the method is further comprised of the step of: determining which of the at least one circuit breaker is electrically connected to the electrical outlet.
 6. The method for identifying which electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuit breaker, as in claim 5, wherein the method is further comprised of the step of: recording which of the at least one circuit breaker is electrically connected to the electrical outlet.
 7. The method for identifying which electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuit breaker, as in claim 5, wherein the determining step is further comprised of the steps of: locating the electrical circuit breaker panel; and turning off and on the at least one circuit breaker to determine which of the at least one circuit breaker is electrically connected to the electrical outlet.
 8. The method for identifying which electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuit breaker, as in claim 6, wherein the recording step is further comprised of the step of: recording information about which of the at least one circuit breaker is electrically connected to the electrical outlet into a database, wherein the database is located on a mobile communications device or stored remotely.
 9. A system for identifying which electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuit breaker, comprising: an electrical outlet faceplate cover having at least one outlet opening and a fastener located adjacent to the at least one electrical outlet opening such that the electrical outlet faceplate cover is located over an electrical outlet; a circuit breaker panel having at least one circuit breaker located on the circuit breaker panel; and a near field communications tag located on a front face of the electrical outlet faceplate cover such that the near field communications tag contains information related to which of the at least one circuit breakers is electrically connected to the electrical outlet.
 10. The system for identifying which electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuit breaker, according to claim 9, wherein the electrical outlet faceplate cover is further comprised of: a durable material.
 11. The system for identifying which electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuit breaker, according to claim 9, wherein the near field communications tag is located adjacent to the at least one electrical outlet opening.
 12. A method for identifying which electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuit breaker, comprising the steps of: providing an electrical outlet faceplate cover having at least one electrical outlet opening and a fastener located adjacent to the at least one electrical outlet opening such that the electrical outlet faceplate cover is located over an electrical outlet; providing a circuit breaker panel having at least one circuit breaker located on the circuit breaker panel; and providing a near field communications tag located on a front face of the electrical outlet faceplate cover such that the near field communications tag is capable of containing information related to which of the at least one circuit breaker is electrically connected to the electrical outlet.
 13. The method for identifying which electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuit breaker, as in claim 12, wherein the method is further comprised of the step of; determining which of the at least one circuit breaker is electrically connected to the electrical outlet.
 14. The method for identifying which electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuit breaker, as in claim 13, wherein the method is further comprised of the step of: recording which of the at least one circuit breaker is electrically connected to the electrical outlet.
 15. The method for identifying which electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuit breaker, as in claim 13, wherein the determining step is further comprised of the steps of: locating the electrical circuit breaker panel; and turning off and on the at least one circuit breaker to determine which of the at least one circuit breaker is electrically connected to the electrical outlet.
 16. The method for identifying which electrical outlets are electrically connected to a circuit breaker, as in claim 14, wherein the recording step is further comprised of the step of: recording information about which of the at least one circuit breaker is electrically connected to the electrical outlet into a database, wherein the database is located on a mobile communications device or stored remotely. 